Sussex and Surrey

One Day Conference and AGM Sponsored by Experian Friday 14th December 2007 Download slides

We are the IRRV local association for East and West Sussex and Surrey. This is a large area but because of the good road links we hold meetings in places such as Oxted, Dorking, Burgess Hill, Horsham and Hailsham. We normally meet about four times a year with full day events for Revenues Benefit or Valuation Matters. We also cover topics such as management. If we have a day event we will usually provide a buffet lunch sometimes we charge to cover the costs of this, but you will always be advised at the advertising stage if there is a charge or not. Our meetings are open to all members of the Institute and guests of our members as well. The local association meetings are eligible for CPD (continuous professional development) hours and certificates of attendance can be arranged. Our executive is always open to new ideas about the type of meetings that you would like to have. We are also open to new members on the executive and If your employer would like to provide a meeting venue that would be great too. If you haven’t been to a local meeting, make sure that we have your contact details and come along. It is good training, often good fun and our speakers are of the highest quality (In the past year we have had Tim Savill from the Audit Commission, Jim Boyd from the Pension Service, Allan Traynor ( 2006/7 IRRV National President), Institute Chief Executive David Magor OBE, as well as local association executive members Bill Lovell (Former IRRV National Council Member and Tutor) and Julie Holden (Current IRRV National President) . We look forward to seeing you there..

DORKING Thursday 28th October 2004 BOOKING DETAILSDownload the programme click hereRichard Guy

Slides are now available in pdf format of the Benefit event held at Burgess Hill on the 7 march 2007

We have postal addresses from the IRRV for our members, but if you could send us your email address, this is quicker, safer, ensures delivery and keeps the running costs of the Institute down. Please send an email to this address sxsyassnirrv@btinternet.com and if you are known as hotlips@hotmail,com, please tell us your regular name! To ensure that we do get the information out to you. Many thanks

This is an ideal course for anyone who needs an understanding of Council Tax.

In particular, it is aimed at customer service and benefits staff but also could be used as an introduction for new council tax staff.

Cost
The cost is £80 per person including refreshments, lunch and handouts.

Venue
The Hickstead Hotel, conveniently situated off the A23 at Hickstead. (Nearest railway station Burgess Hill)

The Trainer
The trainer is Bill Lovell IRRV a well known and very popular trainer in this area.

The Date
This is a one day course repeated twice so that you can maximise the numbers of staff you send.
This first is Monday 12th September with a repeat on Tuesday 13th, September.

For more details and to book please contact
Ian Nisbet IRRV Ian.nisbet@wealden.gov.uk or use the link below

The AGM and then an address from Geoff Fisher will take place on friday 12th The meeting is due to start at 1.30 for coffee and the AGM. Any member wishing to stand as an officer should make thier nomination known to a member of the current committee. The national president and member of the executive comittee Julie Holden will give a short address. All members are invited to the AGM, non members may attend for the Valuer talk there following.

Depsite the snowy weather a very successful meeting took place at Tandridge Council on 4th February. The meeting was attended by 18 members of the institute and Guests. the meeting was chaired by Ian Nisbet . Bill Lovell kicked off the meeting by giving an update on the Enforcement, Courts and Tribuanals act Followed by Dave Chapman and Darren Kelk who spoke about collection methods and areas to concentrate during a rescession. The feedback from the meeting was excellent and the association thanks all three Speakers for making the journey in the inclement weather, along with the hardy members who turned out to hear them

Minutes of Sussex and Surrey Assn IRRV
26^th November 2008

Present: Julie, Colin, Paul, and Richard

Apologies: Ian, Bill, Linda

Finance
Current account: £76.81, Deposit account £1800.33
Julie explained that she had noticed that when other associations have held events involving the President they do not pay the Presidents expenses as they are funded from HQ, whereas in the past the association has. It was agreed that we would follow the practice of not paying expenses to Presidents in the future.

AGM
The fact that we had not had an AGM for 2007 was discussed and it was decided that we would hold 2007 and 2008 together by June 2009. Colin stated that Bill had offered to take over as secretary at the AGM. Paul said he was quite happy to continue as Treasurer and it was agreed to ask Ian to stay on as President for a further year.

Programme
Julie expressed her concerns at the associations’ lack of programme over the last few years. Several reasons for this were discussed including the lack of interest from members, the lack of executive members, and the geography of the region.

The possibility of disbanding the association was discussed. However Julie wanted to give the members one last opportunity and offered to organise four meetings through to September 2009. This was accepted by the executive.

It was thought the meetings should be held around the region with each meeting in a different place. Initial meetings could include management, mock tribunals, and the effects of the recession on R & B. Authority was given to Julie to organise whatever she felt appropriate, Turnouts and interest in joining the executive would be measured and if no new blood came forward then we would discuss either merging with other associations or disbandment with the Chief Executive.

Colin C Holden
Secretary.

IRRV Sussex and Surrey Association AGM Minutes 2008 attached

The next meeting is a mock tribunal hearing concering a revenues liability issue. David Magor (IRRV Chief Executive)will be appearing as the appellant and will be challenged by Gary Watson (IRRV Deputy Chief Executive) representing the Authority. The scene will be set and the case placed before those present before the case is heard The afternoon will be lighthearted but instructive, for anyone that is hoping for some tips in presenting to tribunals, wants a refresher or simply wants to witness this "travesty of British Justice" this is a must!
This will truly be the clash of the titans!
There is no charge for the event it will start at 1.00 pm and end by 4pm

Kerry will take us through some of the different methods and schemes adopted and the success of these.  Hints and Tips glarore for those of us with no specific take up grant or allocation and learning the best options available.   Dave  will then take us through the capita model that was adopted pan-Wales and the ongoing work in phase two of the project.  

The meeting is available to all IRRV Sussex and Surrey members and their guests (2.5 CPD hours should be claimed). For refreshments numbers it would be helpful for attendees to let Bill Lovell or Julie Holden know that they are coming in advance of the meeting.   

See You There!

Julie Holden took over as the President of the IRRV on 2nd October. She is Head of Revenues and Benefits at Tandridge District in Surrey and lives in West Sussex. Julie has been a member of the Sussex and Surrey Association since it was formed in 2002 and was the first President of the amalgamated Association which was formed by the Sussex Association and the Surrey members of the London and Home Counties Association. Julie is honoured to be following in the footsteps of local past presidents: Richard Guy, Richard Harbord and the late Howard Longden. The Association is delighted to have another National President from their ranks and we all wish her well in her Presidential Year To keep up with Julie as she undertakes her year of office, read her blog on the IRRV home page.

The next meeting is a mock tribunal hearing concering a revenues liability issue. David Magor (IRRV Chief Executive)will be appearing as the appellant and will be challenged by Deputy Chief Executive Gary Watson representing the Authority. The scene will be set and the case placed before those present before the case is heard The afternoon will be lighthearted but instructive, for anyone that is hoping for some tips in presenting to tribunals, wants a refresher or simply wants to witness this "travesty of British Justice" this is a must! This is truly to be a clash of the titans!

There is no charge for the event it will start at 1.00 pm and end by 4pm

The 2008 AGM saw the end of an era for Sussex and Surrey Executive Member Bill Lovell. Bill has served as an IRRV Council member since 1992 contributing greatly to the Policy and Research Committee and its successor the Law Research and Education Committee. He is also an author of Institute publications and a regular speaker at seminars and conferences. Bill was formerly Assistant Treasurer at Wealden Council in East Sussex but since 2002 he has run his own successful training and consultancy business. Bill decided not to stand again in the recent elections for Council but will continue to support the Institute through the Faculty Boards and as the Chief Examiner for PPA (the Professional Project Assessment route to corporate membership). The Association recognises the hard work that Bill has put in to the Institute at a national level and is pleased that he is remaining active on our Executive. Bill said “This is not retirement,, I am simply giving myself more time to concentrate on my consultancy work as well as tutoring on the London Day Release course where I have a great time getting to know the students who are the future of IRRV. I’m not sure how I ever had time to be on National Council as well!”

Attendees: Colin Holden , Paul Tonking, Julie Holden, Paul Askew

1. Apologies
   Bill, Ian, Meryl, Richard, and Sarah
   
2. Minutes
   Colin went briefly through the minutes and they were agreed.
   
3. Finance
   PaulT reported Current account balance at £41.64 and the deposit account at £2,843following the receipt of a grant from HQ. He also expressed concern regarding a withdrawal from the deposit account of £150 which he was investigating with the bank.
   
4. Revenues Meeting Colin apologised that the meeting did not take place in August as scheduled which was due to pressure of work at his office. It was decided to combine this meeting with the AGM in October.
   
5. AGM
   After much discussion it was decided to hold the AGM either before or after the Revenues meeting at the end of October and to invite the President to attend and take part in both events.
   
6. Entertaining the President
   This was discussed and it was agreed that the President and partners and the Chief Executive and wife would be invited to dinner with the Association Officers and their partners on the Saturday before conference. This was because no social event had been held this year. Colin will book once he has agreed the invitation with the president and CEO.
   
7. 07/08 Programme
   Members expressed a concern that the programme was poor this year but at least something had been run. It was decided to split up the organising of the meetings with the secretary booking the venues for the whole year as soon as possible.
   
   The following were agreed:
   • October Revenues and AGM – Lead Colin
   • Early December – BIDS – Lead PaulA
   • Late January – Management – Lead Colin/Julie
   • Late April – Benefits – Lead PaulT/Julie
   
   The half day format would continue and the venue would be Martlets, Burgess Hill.
   
8. Sussex Sleepover
   Colin reported that both other associations had either declined or shown a reluctance to take part in this event. Several options were debated and it was agreed that Colin should discuss with the CEO whether this was something we could do in partnership with HQ over two days and one night. The thrust of the event was discussed and it was thought that a series of master classes would be the way forward with mock courts and tribunals that could be used as evidence for NVQ’s if possible. To this end Colin would contact Lindsey at HQ to discuss and also to establish how many NVQ students there were within our area.
   
9. AOB
   
   Student members
   Colin reported that Bill had emailed him regarding the fact that there appeared to be no students joining this year. Julie responded that he was only looking at one month’s figures and there were students. This was supported by several other members of the executive who said they had new students within their authorities.
   
   Future executive meetings
   It was thought that 4 meetings a year would be appropriate.
   
   Non attending executive members
   It was agreed that Colin should write to members who have missed three or more consecutive meetings this year asking about the member’s commitment to the association.

Mike is the Benefits Manager at Eastbourne Borough Council in East Sussex.  Mike has been involved in benefits for over 20 years and has held posts at several different Councils.  He has been at Eastbourne since 2005.  Mike supports the Association executive by helping with planning of programmes and arranging meetings. Outside of work Mike enjoys walking his dog on the beaches of East Sussex and indulging in the occasional glass of fine wine.   

Mike can be contacted at mike.friel@eastbourne.gov.uk    

Linda Norman is Head of Revenues with Spelthorne District Council.   Linda was co-opted to the Executive in 2008 and elected at the AGM in 2009.   Linda qualified as a member of the RVA and has a wealth of experience in her Revenues background.  Linda supports the committee by assisting with ideas for programming and attending meetings when she is able balancing life as a mum and full time work with her committment to support the Institute at a local level.

 Linda can be contacted at linda.norman@spelthorne.gov.uk

More details TBA